Ghana is getting ready to restart the engines at its long-dormant Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), and this could be a game-changer—not just for Accra, but for West Africa’s entire fuel supply chain.

After years of halted operations, TOR is now on track to resume full-scale refining by October 2025, according to Acting Managing Director Edmund Kombat. With upgrades nearly complete and internal restructuring underway, the refinery could help Ghana cut its monthly fuel import bill—which currently stands at $400 million—by over half.

TOR’s revival is more than a budget fix. It’s a strategic shift in how Ghana meets its energy needs, grows local industry, and positions itself within Africa’s evolving trade ecosystem. The new upgrades boost refining capacity to 60,000 barrels per day, enough to meet at least 45% to 60% of national demand. That means fewer fuel tankers crossing borders, and more local jobs across transport, logistics, and port operations.

But the bigger story is regional. Across West Africa, countries like Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal still rely heavily on imported refined fuel, even as they export crude. Ghana’s move to bring TOR back online could inspire others to rethink this imbalance. A fully functional TOR could eventually export refined fuel to neighbours, giving Ghana a new foothold in cross-border trade and energy diplomacy.

This momentum also aligns with AfCFTA’s goal of strengthening intra-African value chains. With better infrastructure and transparent execution, Ghana could transform itself from a fuel importer into a refining hub, supporting economic diversification, reducing reliance on distant refineries, and easing logistics pressure on African ports.

Of course, the success of this plan depends on staying the course. Past refinery projects across Africa have faced setbacks due to governance gaps and funding challenges. But if Ghana gets this right, it won’t just be fixing a refinery—it will be redesigning its role in regional energy trade.